ERAU's space venture can lift the region

Published: Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 8, 2013 at 7:02 p.m.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has taken a deeper step into the mid-21st century and beyond with a new commercial space program. That's fine news for Volusia County's economy.

The ERAU program will offer a bachelor's degree in commercial space operations. This might have sounded a bit too futuristic just 10 years ago. But we know today that such educational training is needed as demand for skilled space workers grows in the private sector, not just the public sector.

The future of commercial space industries is here now. Private companies are rocketing cargo into space. Unmanned rockets are also carrying satellites into orbit. Sometimes there is very little involvement from the government, with much of this space effort coming from private sources.

So it's clear the future of space travel cannot be based just on NASA and governments in Europe, Russia and China. The United States' public-sector space program is facing major budget challenges. The federal government owes too much money and cannot spend what it used to on manned space flight.

Yet the worldwide space industry needs planners and engineers trained specifically to help arrange and conduct commercial space operations, from travel to unmanned cargo delivery. The ERAU program will help bolster job seekers in space-related management jobs, flight planning, space policy and laws, and operations and safety. Commercial space flight, manned or unmanned, is complicated and hazardous. The sector needs trained managers on the ground.

Many of the new managers will be working for the private sector. Already, there is heavy involvement from the private sector in the commercial space industry. Elon Musk, the founder of PayPal, is trying to build a commercial spaceport — perhaps right here in Volusia County.

The spaceport will launch a variety of cargo and payload into space. With luck, Musk's company, SpaceX, will choose a 150-acre site in Volusia County near Oak Hill for this new spaceport. The land is now controlled by NASA. SpaceX has already had its unmanned vehicles make deliveries to the International Space Station, but it's looking for a privately held vertical-launch facility.

So there is reason to believe the ERAU program could work in a new way for Volusia County. Embry-Riddle trains many U.S. pilots and aviation experts. But most of them do not stay here once they graduate. Volusia County loses a lot of talent every year.

But the commercial space program can graduate people who would want to stay here, because Brevard and Volusia counties are the Space Coast. Helping in this regard is Embry-Riddle's effort to develop a research park near its campus and the Daytona Beach International Airport.

Many commercial operators, from SpaceX to United Launch Alliance, are working to expand their operations and may have a much larger commercial presence in Volusia and Brevard counties in the near future. That means more ERAU graduates may be able to make their homes in the region.

Embry-Riddle officials should be lauded for continuing to expand their vision of flight and space operations. Their vision could mean a better future for Volusia County.

<p>Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has taken a deeper step into the mid-21st century and beyond with a new commercial space program. That's fine news for Volusia County's economy. </p><p>The ERAU program will offer a bachelor's degree in commercial space operations. This might have sounded a bit too futuristic just 10 years ago. But we know today that such educational training is needed as demand for skilled space workers grows in the private sector, not just the public sector. </p><p>The future of commercial space industries is here now. Private companies are rocketing cargo into space. Unmanned rockets are also carrying satellites into orbit. Sometimes there is very little involvement from the government, with much of this space effort coming from private sources. </p><p>So it's clear the future of space travel cannot be based just on NASA and governments in Europe, Russia and China. The United States' public-sector space program is facing major budget challenges. The federal government owes too much money and cannot spend what it used to on manned space flight. </p><p>Yet the worldwide space industry needs planners and engineers trained specifically to help arrange and conduct commercial space operations, from travel to unmanned cargo delivery. The ERAU program will help bolster job seekers in space-related management jobs, flight planning, space policy and laws, and operations and safety. Commercial space flight, manned or unmanned, is complicated and hazardous. The sector needs trained managers on the ground. </p><p>Many of the new managers will be working for the private sector. Already, there is heavy involvement from the private sector in the commercial space industry. Elon Musk, the founder of PayPal, is trying to build a commercial spaceport &mdash; perhaps right here in Volusia County. </p><p>The spaceport will launch a variety of cargo and payload into space. With luck, Musk's company, SpaceX, will choose a 150-acre site in Volusia County near Oak Hill for this new spaceport. The land is now controlled by NASA. SpaceX has already had its unmanned vehicles make deliveries to the International Space Station, but it's looking for a privately held vertical-launch facility. </p><p>So there is reason to believe the ERAU program could work in a new way for Volusia County. Embry-Riddle trains many U.S. pilots and aviation experts. But most of them do not stay here once they graduate. Volusia County loses a lot of talent every year. </p><p>But the commercial space program can graduate people who would want to stay here, because Brevard and Volusia counties are the Space Coast. Helping in this regard is Embry-Riddle's effort to develop a research park near its campus and the Daytona Beach International Airport. </p><p>Many commercial operators, from SpaceX to United Launch Alliance, are working to expand their operations and may have a much larger commercial presence in Volusia and Brevard counties in the near future. That means more ERAU graduates may be able to make their homes in the region. </p><p>Embry-Riddle officials should be lauded for continuing to expand their vision of flight and space operations. Their vision could mean a better future for Volusia County.</p>